Concerns over the absence of two major political parties, Accord and the All Progressives Congress, dominated discussions at a peace meeting organised by the Nigeria Police Force in Osogbo on Wednesday ahead of the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
Representatives of smaller political parties criticised the failure of the ruling Accord and the All Progressives Congress to attend the meeting, which was convened by the Osun State Police Command alongside other security agencies.
The gathering brought together political parties, electoral officials, and security stakeholders to discuss peaceful conduct before, during, and after the election.
Several participants expressed concern that the absence of the two parties could weaken efforts to ensure a violence-free election.
Speaking at the meeting, Adewale Adebayo, governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, described the boycott as disturbing, stressing that all parties should be part of peace discussions.
Similarly, Prince Adesoji Adeleke of the BOOT Party also faulted the absence, insisting their presence was crucial to the success of the initiative.
Earlier, Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, urged political actors to conduct campaigns responsibly and notify security agencies ahead of rallies and gatherings to ensure proper security arrangements.
Also speaking, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Independent National Electoral Commission in Osun State, Oluwatoyin Babalola, raised concerns over recent violence in the state and urged parties to embrace issue-based campaigns while rejecting hate speech and misinformation.
BACKSTORY…
The peace meeting comes as preparations intensify for the 2026 Osun State governorship election, amid growing concerns over political tension and violence in the state.
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Osun State has witnessed several clashes involving supporters of rival political parties in recent months, with reports of attacks, destruction of campaign materials, and casualties raising fears ahead of the polls.
Security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission have been pushing for peace agreements among political actors to prevent a repeat of past election-related violence.
The absence of the ruling Accord and the All Progressives Congress at the latest stakeholders’ dialogue has sparked criticism, with other parties warning that their non-attendance could weaken efforts to build trust and ensure a peaceful electoral process.
